A father of four has called the council “pathetic and childish” after they objected to plans to expand his two-bedroom house.

John Miller lives with wife and children – aged between 23 and three - in their Grade II listed home in High Street, Southgate.

His family has owned the property for since 1912, and the house has been there since the 1850s. Alongside the house is an old workshop, which Mr Miller wants to knock down and convert into two more bedrooms.

The 61-year-old, who worked as a carpenter for 45 years, says the workshop is “rotten and falling down”, however Enfield Council’s Conservation Advisory Group said in September that “no rebuild will ever replicate the patina of age and urge that a structural solution is found that preserves the existing building.”

Mr Miller, whose plans may have to go before the planning committee, said their eldest child has to sleep in the living room, their youngest in the same room as his mum and dad, while his other two daughters, 13 and 15, have to share.

He said: “It is a nonsense decision, very pathetic and childish. The workshop was not even put up properly, it has no foundations, its built straight off the ground, and the top floor has essentially just been nailed on.

“I want to replace it with a proper building. This has been our family home for a century, but we cannot just make do with what we have. If we can’t extend we will have to look at other options.”

He claims when the house was Grade II listed in 2003, no mention was made of the workshop, although the council say both are protected buildings.

Mr Miller, who says he has been trying to get it knocked down for four years and has spent about £30,000 already on the project, doesn’t believe the council know enough about the building and are simply making a decision based on the age.

He said: “I joked about putting metal frame around it to help it stay up. The council’s heritage officer said it would not be a bad idea. It’s madness.”

He is also angry at the delays in the current application process. Mr Miller filed for planning permission through the council website on May 27, but says it was processed only on July 19.

He was supposed to hear back by September 13 on whether it would have to go to planning committee and what date it would take place, but says he has heard nothing yet.

Grade II listed buildings represent two per cent of the nation's properties, and are recognised nationally to be of special architectural or historic interest.

They receive special legislative protection but can be altered, extended and sometimes even demolished subject to assessment.

Enfield Council spokesperson Suzanne Linsey said: "Proposals must be carefully assessed in line with legislation and policy. As part of this, the property has been inspected by two of the council’s heritage officers and full details were made available to the Conservation Advisory Group.

"The timescale for determining the applications is not typical of the council's approach, with 88 per cent of all applications being determined in time."